No ballots have been counted, but the Approve Ref. 71 campaign – the group seeking to uphold the state’s same-sex domestic partnership law – already have a handle on why they won. Or lost.

Already being circulated are what sound like talking points to be used in case the measure loses. The backgrounder, prepared by Pyramid Communications, noted that the election was “challenging to win” because of an off-election year, an anti-tax measure that attracted more conservative voters, dishonest opponents and supporters who thought the law was a shoo-in.

The backgrounder also cited the time and money supporters spent addressing the peripheral issue of whether Washington’s secretary of state should reveal the names of people who signed petitions to put the law to a public vote.

If the law is upheld and their campaign is successful, Approve Ref. 71 can claim credit for a strategy that targeted faith communities and minorities, civic groups, unions and large employers, including Microsoft, Boeing, Google and Starbucks, according to the backgrounder.

GENEVIEVE ALVAREZ

Approve Ref 71 party getting started.